Neil Griffiths (footballer)

Neil Griffiths (born 12 October 1951) is an English former footballer who played at left-back for Chester, Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra, Stafford Rangers, Macclesfield Town, and Newcastle Town. He also briefly managed Macclesfield Town.

Neil Griffiths
Personal information
Full name Neil Griffiths[1]
Date of birth (1951-10-12) 12 October 1951[1]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Left-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1973 Chester 90 (5)
1973–1981 Port Vale 218 (13)
1981–1982 Crewe Alexandra 34 (1)
1982–1983 Stafford Rangers
1983–1986 Macclesfield Town 29 (0)
Newcastle Town
Total 361+ (19+)
Managerial career
1985–1986 Macclesfield Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Griffiths began his career at Ken Roberts's Chester, who missed out on the Fourth Division promotion places by one point and one place in 1970–71. They then dropped to just one point and one place above the re-election zone in 1971–72, before finishing in 15th place in 1972–73. He scored five goals in 90 league games during his time at Sealand Road. He joined Gordon Lee's Port Vale in exchange for £5,000 and Tony Loska in December 1973.[1]

He played 24 Third Division and two FA Cup games in the 1973–74 season.[1] He fell out of favour under new manager Roy Sproson, playing just 12 league games in the 1974–75 campaign.[1] He featured 35 times in the 1975–76 season, and scored his first goal for the "Valiants" in a 1–1 draw with Hereford United at Vale Park on 3 April.[1] He made 40 appearances in the 1976–77 campaign, and scored one goal in a 3–0 home win over Barnsley to send Vale through to the Third Round of the FA Cup.[1] He played 40 games in the 1977–78 relegation season, and claimed three goals from the penalty spot after being appointed as the club's penalty taker by new boss Bobby Smith.[1] He lined up against Chester in the final of the 1977 Debenhams Cup and scored an own goal in what ended as a 4–1 defeat.[1] He scored one goal in 27 matches in the 1978–79 season, as the club struggled in the Fourth Division under new manager Dennis Butler.[1] He went on to score four goals in 41 games in the 1979–80 season, keeping his first team place as the club switched managers from Butler to Alan Bloor and then John McGrath. He scored three goals in 25 games in the 1980–81 season, and was given a free transfer in May 1981.[1]

Griffiths moved on to Crewe Alexandra, and scored one goal in 34 Fourth Division games as the "Railwaymen" finished bottom of the Football League in 1981–82 under the stewardship of his namesake Arfon Griffiths. He then departed Gresty Road and played Alliance Premier League football for Stafford Rangers, before joining Northern Premier League club Macclesfield Town in 1983. He served the club as a player in the 1983–84 season, as player-coach in 1984–85, and then as manager in 1985–86 before he resigned to join Newcastle Town in February 1986.[3]

Career statistics

Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chester 1970–71 Fourth Division 10000010
1971–72 Fourth Division 3311000341
1972–73 Fourth Division 4022020442
1973–74 Fourth Division 1620010172
Total 9053030965
Port Vale 1973–74 Third Division 2402000260
1974–75 Third Division 1201010140
1975–76 Third Division 3212010351
1976–77 Third Division 3006141402
1977–78 Third Division 3344030404
1978–79 Fourth Division 2611010281
1979–80 Fourth Division 4042100425
1980–81 Fourth Division 2132020253
Total 2181318112124815
Crewe Alexandra 1981–82 Fourth Division 3412010371
Macclesfield Town 1983–84[5] Northern Premier League 80001090
1984–85[6] Northern Premier League 1101040160
1986–87[7] Northern Premier League 1002030150
Total 2903080400
Career total 3611926124142121

Honours

Port Vale

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 120. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 299. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. "Profile". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. Neil Griffiths at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  5. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  6. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  7. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
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